China's climate pledge a 'wake up call to India': Jairam Ramesh

NEW DELHI: Environment minister Jairam Ramesh said in an interview published on Friday that China's decision to unveil a carbon emissions target had put pressure on India to follow suit.

"China has given a wake-up call to India," the minister told in an interview. "We've to think hard about our climate strategy now and look for flexibility, as I've been saying for the past two months, to avoid being isolated at Copenhagen.

"The flexibility can be achieved without taking binding emission cuts."

China unveiled on Thursday what it called an ambitious plan to boost energy efficiency and curb its carbon footprint in the most detailed indication yet of its stance heading into the world climate summit in Copenhagen next month.

The world's most populous country pledged to cut the amount of carbon dioxide emitted per unit of gross domestic product in 2020 by between 40 and 45%, based on 2005 levels.

India has consistently said it will not accept binding carbon emissions cuts which would affect its economic growth and reduce its capacity to fight poverty.

Ramesh said in September that India would be prepared to set itself a non-binding emissions target that could be "shared with the rest of the world", but no announcement has been made since.

India has argued that rich nations are responsible for global warming and should bear the burden of binding emissions cuts and transfer billions of dollars to developing countries to help them adapt to climate change.

More than 190 nations are to meet for UN talks in Copenhagen from December 7-18, aiming for a post-2012 accord to slash emissions from fossil fuels that trap solar heat and drive global warming.